‘Young Carers perception of control: Results of a phenomenology with a mixed sample of young carers accessing support and unknown to services’ 

Author(s): Janes, Ed
Publisher:International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health                                                                                                                                                  Year Published: 2022
Resource type: Peer Reviewed Research Article

Summary:

This article explores how young carers perception of control affected their management of caring responsibilities, mental health, and psychosocial wellbeing. Through recognizing that most research has been conducted with young carers who access support, this study sought to recruit young carers who were unknown to support services through schools. Interviews were conducted with 10 young carers aged 11 to 16 years, with each young carer attending three interviews over a period of one year. Interviews explored the context of the young carer and their family, caregiving responsibilities, support, and identity. Findings suggested that having a high level of control helped young carers manage their care roles; however, their level of control was often changing due to the instability of care receivers’ condition, excessive and night-time caring tasks, and medical responsibilities. The study suggested that young carers who experienced unpredictability in their level of control had problematic routines and struggled with managing responsibilities.

Citation: Janes, E. (2022). Young Carer Perception of Control: Results of a Phenomenology with a Mixed Sample of Young Carers Accessing Support and Unknown to Services. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(10), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19106248

Keywords: Young carers; phenomenology; hard-to-reach; identification; control; routine

Where the data was collected: South Wales, UK